PMS, delayed period, pill+cancer?

[laifan.livejournal.com]

Hey people! I'm posting here for a change. So, I have quite a few questions. First of all some background: I'm 22 years old and still a virgin. I have no active sex life at all.

My family doctor perscribed me the pill (diane) when I was 14 because I had intense flow during my periods. I got off it only a few months ago and in those first months my periods were always regular, always appeared on the same day. However, this month it's been a couple of days since it should have appeared and nothing. Also, I'm starting to experience PMS each month, which didn't use to happen while I was on the pill. I'm currently taking Sertraline for depression - think this could be related? I've been taking that antidepressant for over a year now, due to a bad depression I had in 08. I usually use tampons and I was kinda worried for a while that I could have forgotten one in there but I disregarded that cuz I figure if I had, I'd be doubled over in pain by now (if leaving a bit of the plastic there is uncomfortable like hell, I wonder what a whole tampon feels like...)

Also, I read in the leaflet that comes with the pill that it's unadvisable for people with cancer historial in the family to take the pill. I took it for eight years and my mom died of cancer when I was a child - do you think it could have been bad for me? Not that I have noticed anything out of ordinary with my breasts or period besides what I told you. Also, could you point me out some vitamins that can help you with PMS during that week? It doesn't have to be something strong since I'm on Sertraline too. Just, somedays I feel like crawling up the walls or just drown myself. I hate this =_=

Thanks in advance for any help!

Comments

[fireaphid.livejournal.com]

Firstly, I don't think you should be worried about your period being a little late in the months after discontinuing hormonal birth control, especially if you're not sexually active. If you go more than 3 months without a period, then see a doctor, but a few days late, even with a history of regularity, is not a sign of anything serious. I agree with archangelbeth that a B-vitamin supplement (not just a multivitamin) throughout the month should help with your PMS.

I don't know what kind of cancer your mother had, but birth control is only related to a few types. It slightly decreases your chances of ovarian and uterine cancer but slightly increases your chances of cervical and breast cancer. The increase is not as large as the risk presented by pregnancy, if that gives you an idea of how slight it is.

In the case of breast cancer, the risk returns to that of the general population within ten years of discontinuing pill use, so unless you have a family history of particularly aggressive breast cancers that occur before menopause, it's unimaginably unlikely that the pill could affect your chances of developing breast cancer.

And when it comes to cervical cancer, the tie to hormonal birth control is indirect; the cancer is caused by a sexually transmitted virus, and pill users are less likely to protect themselves with barriers because they don't need further contraception, so they have higher rates of the virus. Not that it's an issue now if you're still a virgin, but the best way to protect yourself from cervical cancer is to get regular Pap screenings once you're sexually active.

Hopefully this answers your questions about cancer and the pill!

[laifan.livejournal.com]

She had breast cancer and she wasn't in menopause yet. Hm I don't know of any other breast cancer in the family, but I had a grandfather who had colon cancer I think and some other uncle I didn't know who had cancer too.

Thanks~